Sonora indigenous community ignored during COVID-19 pandemic

782

HERMOSILLO, SONORA.- In Sonora and in the rest of the country, it is urgent that indigenous and vulnerable communities be served, as they are at high levels of marginalization and do not have the necessary tools to deal with COVID-19, said Diana Luque. Agraz, CIAD researcher.

He explained that among his main problems is the supply of drinking water, which is of poor quality and, in many cases, non-existent; to itself as malnutrition, same that triggers diabetes and obesity with an incidence up to twice the national average.

Hypertension is a widespread disease. Local medical services are practically non-existent and, if any, very poor. In addition, other risk factors have not been mentioned, but clearly they are; for example, the fact that tuberculosis is still present, the inhibition of the immune response due to the high exposure to POPs (persistent organic pollutants, used as pesticides in industrial agriculture) and the high incidence of addictions, ”he pointed out.

The also national coordinator of the Network of Biocultural Heritage of Mexico explained that the way in which she has communicated about the pandemic is beyond her understanding, and that is why the tumultuous festivities prevailed during the Easter celebrations.

They ask for solidarity

In the case of Sonora, some indigenous communities, prior to the declaration of the state of alarm by the state government, decided to close access to their villages to ‘white’ or external people, aware of the high risk they are in.

“For example, the comcaac (seris) announced it from the first week of March. However, given the precariousness of its economy, food and medicine soon became scarce and they had to pay for drinking water pipes out of their bags, ”he reported.

He explained that in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic a scenario of a great tragedy is visualized and it is likely that it will never be measured since the death records do not ask about ethnic affiliation or because they did not continue to reach to a hospital.

Finally, he offered some contacts from these communities, for those who wish to send their help.

Contacts


Efraín Leonel Perales Hoeffer Seri Community
WhatsApp: 6622 415 0451

Yaqui community
Tito Alfonso Valenzuela Murillo
WhatsApp: 644 248 3858

Mayo community
Don Erasmo Leyva
WhatsApp: 647 117 4490

Guarijío and Pima community
Father David Beaumont
Whatsap: 662 934 5844

Papago community
Brenda Lee López
WhatsApp 619 988 2671

Cucapá community
Elizabeth Cortez Wilson
WhatsApp: 653 128 7745

Community of migrant day laborers
Pedro Roberto Gómez López
WhatsApp: 642 102 7814

Source: expreso.com.mx

The Mazatlan Post